BAT France calls for dialogue to achieve the objectives set by the National Program for Tobacco Control.
“Are you interested in a smoke-free France? We are too.”
In early January 2025, BAT France launched an unprecedented awareness campaign in Paris. The aim of this initiative is to spark a debate with the government, anti-smoking associations and adult smokers to regulate nicotine pouches in a bid to raise awareness of alternatives to tobacco and regulate the market.
Alternative products such as nicotine pouches and vaping have proved effective in reducing smoking rates in countries such as Sweden, New Zealand, and the UK. We are convinced that they can help France achieve its goals for reducing smoking prevalence.
Strict regulations to achieve a first smoke-free generation by 2032
With the smoking rate stagnating at 31% in France, BAT France supports the integration of innovative solutions into public health policies, such as nicotine pouches, to offer adult smokers an alternative to tobacco consumption.
“Government and stakeholders need to work constructively together to provide solutions for smokers. As far as nicotine pouches are concerned, the solution is not a ban, but regulation”, says Sebastien Charbonneau, Director of Public and Regulatory Affairs at BAT France.
Regulating the market: an unavoidable priority
In the absence of strict regulation, a recent study conducted by BAT France in collaboration with Webdrone reveals an explosion in the sale of nicotine pouches in France by irresponsible actors on social networks explicitly targeting minors. Between September 2023 and December 2024, 476 publications were recorded on digital platforms, with a predominance on the following networks:
- Telegram (58,82 %),
- Snapchat (32,14 %),
- Facebook Marketplace (6,30 %).
BAT France points out that a ban would only fuel a parallel market, which would represent an increased risk to public health and put both adult consumers and minors at risk.
“We are in favor of strict regulation that, from the outset, would prohibit the sale of these products to minors and any other measure that would prevent these products from being accessible or attractive to them” concludes Mr. Charbonneau.
To find out more about fair and effective regulation to achieve a smoke-free France, visit our website at www.francesanstabac.fr
Romain BAYLE
+33 620 497 554
romain_bayle@bat.com
About BAT
BAT is a leading, multi-category consumer goods business with a purpose to build “A Better Tomorrow” by reducing the health impact of its business through offering a greater choice of enjoyable and less risky products for adult consumers.
The company continues to be clear that combustible cigarettes pose serious health risks, and the only way to avoid these risks is not to start or to quit. BAT encourages those who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch completely to scientifically substantiated, reduced-risk alternatives*†.
In order to deliver this, BAT is transforming into a truly consumer centric multicategory consumer products business.
BAT’s ambition is to have 50 million consumers of its non-combustible products by 2030 and to generate £5billion of New Categories revenue by 2025. BAT has set stretching ESG targets including achieving carbon neutrality for Scopes 1 & 2 by 2030 and eliminating unnecessary single-use plastic and making all plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
BAT employs over 50,000 people and operates in over 180 countries. The BAT Group generated revenue of £27.28 billion in 2023 and profit from operations of £12.46 billion.
The company’s Strategic Portfolio is made up of its global cigarette brands and a growing range of reduced risk*† New Category tobacco and nicotine products and traditional non-combustible tobacco products. These include vapour, tobacco heating products, modern oral products including tobacco-free nicotine pouches, as well as traditional oral products such as snus and moist snuff. By the end of 2023, we will have 26.4 million consumers of our non-combustible products, an increase of 1.5 million compared with 2022.
* Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette smoking. These products are not risk free and are addictive. † Our products as sold in the US, including Vuse, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, and Camel Snus, are subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation and no reduced-risk claims will be made as to these products without FDA clearance.